Why do students pursue MS abroad?

There are over 2,000+ MS courses available abroad for Indian students. Admission to MS though is tough but for those who wish to pursue higher education, MS is the first step. There are numerous reasons why international students wish to study MS abroad and they are as follows:

• MS abroad helps international students build a foundation for research programs and study.
• some students pursue an MS in research offered Abroad which helps them guide through their course with in-depth knowledge and research-oriented study.
• Applicants may have difficulty in choosing one country for MS. Best country for master’s for Indian students is not one but many. The costs may vary and course structure may too but studying MS abroad is altogether a different experience.
• MS abroad is also chosen by Indian students to enhance their resumes and get better opportunities.
• Students come together with students of different backgrounds and learn together and network better.

There are more reasons and each individual may have a different goal and reason to pursue an MS abroad. Let’s discuss MS in some of the top countries abroad.

Best Countries for MS Abroad

Listed below are a few top countries for MS that are popular among international students:

MS in the United States

The US has always been a magnet for thousands of ambitious students around the world. The US is the destination Indian students prefer over other countries because US colleges offer academic excellence, extensive support services for international students, generous funding, a wide variety of educational options, flexible curricula, and OPT and CPT which provide hands-on training. With home to some of the top universities, the US is considered one of the best countries to do MS. This all-in-one package is offered only by the US, along with the fact that there is already a strong Indian community that thrives there. Plus, a lot of students do feel that they can leave their well-settled and good-paying job in India for pursuing an MS because it is worth it. The cost of staying in the US can vary from $12,000–$35,000 per year depending on the place where you are staying. If the student is staying in a suburb, then the student needs around $10,000-$12,000 per year. Whereas if a student is residing in a major city like New York or Chicago then expenses can go up to $18,000. The cost of staying in the US varies with each course level and university of choice opted by the student. International students who want to stay back after their MS in the USA after completing their degree have the option to do so through OPT. It is a temporary employment permission that allows students to gain practical experience in their field of study for a period of 36 months (STEM-certified course).

There are three types of US study visas:

F1 Visa, J1 Visa, and M1 Visa are three different types of US student visas. The application fee for a study visa to the US is $160.

A few of the universities in the USA for MS are as follows:

• California State University
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Southern Illinois University
• Stanford University

MS in Canada

The number of international students enrolled in Canadian universities has grown year after year over the past few years. Canada’s higher education sector is characterized by its diversity. Its institutions vary in size, history, and portfolio of programs and specializations. With tighter norms in the US, Canada has become the best place to do MS for international students. Canadian degree/diploma is recognized around the world as being of the highest standard. In addition, you get all this at a remarkably low cost, both in terms of the cost of education and in terms of the cost of living. The tuition fee in Canada can vary up to CDN $10,000 – $40,000 annually. And those who are looking to pursue a post-graduation program, the cost of pursuing an MS in Canada can be anywhere between CDN $15,000 – $55,000 annually. Apart from this, a student also needs around CDN $10,000 – $12,000 as living expenses. Canada is preferred as the top country to do MS. Further, a post-graduation work permit in Canada is valid for the same duration as your program of study, or you can stay for a minimum of 8 months and a maximum of 3 years after completing your MS. To be eligible for this, your course duration must be of minimum 8 months.

A study permit for Canada costs CAD$ 150.

A few of the popular Canadian colleges offering MS:

• University of Toronto
• University of Ottawa
• University of Alberta
• University of Windsor
• Western University Canada

MS in Australia

Australian university qualifications are internationally recognized and valued by employers and academics worldwide. Australian degrees can be divided into Professional Development Masters, Professional Masters, and Traditional Academic Masters. Professional Development Masters degrees offer opportunities to specialize in a particular area. Professional Masters enable students who have a general or non-professional undergraduate background to train and qualify to practice in a particular field. An international student must fulfil the financial requirements set by The Department of Immigration and Border Protection. A candidate needs to show INR 10.30 lakhs for the first year as the cost of studying in Australia. For a post-graduate degree, the fee can be around INR 17.30 lakhs. If you have completed two years of study in Australia then you can stay in Australia for 18 months to gain work experience. You will have to apply for a post-graduate work visa after completing your MS in Australia. If you have completed two years of study in Australia then you can stay in Australia for 18 months to gain work experience. You will have to apply for a post-graduate work visa after completing your MS in Australia.

The cost of all the subclass visas for international students is AUD$ 680.

 A few of the popular Australian colleges offering MS:

• The University of Adelaide
• Queensland University of Technology
• The University of Sydney
• Charles Darwin University
• University of Canberra

MS in the United Kingdom

Master’s courses in the UK are shorter and more intensive than in other countries, so you will graduate sooner (usually within a year) without compromising on education quality. This will save you time and money spent on tuition fees and the cost of living. The UK has the second-highest number of universities ranked in the top 100 by the 2023-2024 Times Higher Education World Rankings. The UK has a long tradition of education with some of its universities having started in the 12th-13th century. For international students, the tuition fee in the UK can vary from £10,000 (~US$14,130) to £38,000 (~US$53,700). Also, as per the UK Border Agency (UKBA), an international student needs to show a budget of at least £1,265 per month for staying in London and £1,015 per month for staying outside London excluding the tuition fees. International students can stay back for four months after completing their MS in the UK. 

The fee for the Tier 4 General Visa is £363. A few of the popular UK colleges offering MS:

• University of Salford
• University of Glasgow
• University of Birmingham
• University of Oxford
• University of Nottingham

MS in Germany

German Masters’s programs draw on world-leading expertise in a number of fields, particularly in applied sciences, engineering and related subject areas. For Germany, the sole criteria for selection are academic excellence as documented by means of academic certificates, publications, patents, etc. After completing one’s degree program from a German university, one is allowed to stay in Germany for 18 months to look for a job in keeping with one’s qualifications. Public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees or charge a minimal fee, whereas private universities can charge anywhere between INR 9 – 10 lakhs. Also, for living expenses, students need approximately INR 7 lakhs. After completing their MS in Germany, international students can get a Residence Permit for 18 months in Germany to look for a job in their field of study.

Visa fees for a German student visa are €75. A few of the popular German colleges offering MS:

• University of Bayreuth
• Technical University of Berlin
• Braunschweig University of Technology
• Technical University of Munich
• Dresden University of Technology

Other Popular Countries for MS

There are other popular countries where international students choose to pursue a Master’s degree. Some of these countries include New Zealand, Italy, France, Ireland, etc. are also popular for international students.

Which Country is best for doing an MS Abroad?

Pursuing a Master’s Degree from aboard and that too from a reputed international institution holds major value when it is accompanied by International Work experience. Each country has its own advantages. Here are few countries that have excellent universities to study MS in USA.

Study in UK:

Master courses duration in UK are shorter than other countries, it only take 1 year as compare to other countries without compromising the quality of education. Students can specialize in their field right from the beginning. UK comes in 2nd position after USA for highest number of universities as well as if you will do MS from UK then you will save your time as well as money spent on tuition fees. However looking at the current work scenario many students currently do not opt for UK as there is no opportunity for a student to work in the country after their Degrees are over but if looking at a quality education UK is one of the countries that one can opt for. Approx Expenses in UK: Rs. 22 – 28 Lakhs (Tuition and Living Expenses) per year.

Below are some of the famous University:

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College London
• The University of Manchester
• King’s College London

Study in USA:

USA has always been the best and favorite study abroad destination for pursuing Masters in USA. USA colleges provide quality education, flexibility, internships, variety of education option, Funding, etc. Students who fall under the “STEM” i.e Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Programs get a 3 Year OPT period to work and recover their expenses they have incurred during studies within this period as the Return on Investment is faster as compared to any other country. As per the current scenario of Trump coming into power students are entitled to apply for H1B Visas after their 3 Year OPT period expires. Trump has cancelled the H1B Visas of people who directly apply for work out of top companies for projects like Infosys, Capgemini etc. He has not stopped the H1B Visas for potential students who go to USA for higher education. Approx Expenses in USA: Rs. 30 – 40 Lakhs (Tuition and Living Expenses) for 2 Yrs. A student’s starting salary would be approx USD 70000 – 100000.

Some of the universities offering likely courses are: 

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• California Institute of Technology
• Princeton University

Study in Australia:

Australia has always been the magnet for thousands of ambitious students around the world. Australian degrees can be divided into Professional Development Masters, Professional Masters and Traditional Academic Masters. Professional Development Masters degrees offer opportunities to specialize in a particular area. Like UK, Australia also accepts 15 Yrs of Education and only the IELTS / PTE exams are required. Students don’t need to give GRE exams. It pulls students who are interested to settle in Australia as Australian Permanent Residency (PR) is the fastest as compared to all countries across the world. A student who studies for 2 Yrs Master’s Degree in the Australian Country avails of a 2 Yr stay back option of working providing students with an opportunity to apply for PR and get hands on experience in the International Markets. Approx. Expenses in Australia: Rs. 25 – 35 Lakhs (Tuition and Living Expenses) for 2 Yrs. A student’s starting salary would be approx. AUD 70000.

Here are some universities offering courses :

• The University of Melbourne
• Australian National University
• University of Sydney
• University of New South Wales
• The University of Queensland

Study in Canada:

Canada offers an affordable education. The quality of education and living standards in Canada are amongst the highest in the world, but the cost of living and tuition fees for international students are generally lower than in other countries such as the USA, UK and Australia. GRE is not mandatory but highly recommended for Top Universities. Only the IELTS exams are required. Canada education is divided into two groups: Graduate Certificates and Master’s Degree. For Graduate Certificates a student qualifies by holding a Bachelor’s Degree in the same field. These Graduate Certificates are offered by Canadian Govt Colleges and Universities. They are also known to Indians as “PG Diplomas”. These courses offered by Colleges are much cheaper with the entry requirements being lower as compared to Universities. For Master’s Degree require a 16th Yr of Education like USA. Students completing a 1 Yr Program avails of a 1 Yr stay back option to work or a 2 Yr Program avails of a 3 Yr stay back option. Canada is in 2nd position in terms of providing Permanent Residency (PR) after Australia. It’s also known as a “Backdoor entry into the US” as after student gets his PR status he can work in USA. Approx Rs. 16 Lakhs (Tuition and Living Expenses) per yr. A student’s starting salary would be approx. AUD 70000.

Universities offering likely courses:

• McGill University
• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia
• Saint Mary’s University
• University of Dundee

Watch the glimpse of what Student says about their experience at Imperial Overseas Education.